Thursday, March 29, 2012

Putting Things Off

I've been putting off the blog. Every time I think "I should update my condition or post a photo or something" I fall asleep or forget what I wanted to say. Yup, medication of the morphine kind will do that. I've been in a fog since 3/13, the day of my surgery.

My knee is coming along nicely. It has an 8+ inch incision right over the top. Until yesterday, the incision was held together with 20+ staples. They were removed and the remaining scar is practically a thing of beauty. No Frankenstein stitches on me!

The entire procedure has surprised me. As a veteran of two hip replacements, I dreaded this operation. Why? Because post op sucks. After each hip surgery, there were so many restrictions: no bending at the waist, no weight on the operated leg, walking protocol, dressing with a grabber, a sock slider, a leg lifter (don't ask), sliding into bed, onto a chair, how to sit on a toilet properly, how to get off said toilet. I knew the meds were awful. I have a very low tolerance and usually hallucinate, throw up or talk to nobody. This time, however, there were virtually no walking, sitting, bending, weight bearing, dressing protocols. I could do what I could as I could. Unbelievable! Had I known it would be this easy, I wouldn't have put it off as many years as I did.

If any of you out there are contemplating a total knee replacement, go for it. I waited too long for all the wrong reasons (fear). One piece of advice: Condition your body before you go in. It will hasten the healing and recovery.

25 comments:

DJan Stewart
said...

Well, congratulations on getting that new knee! I know several people who have had it done, and only one person is actually worse off than before. She has now had five operations on the same knee, trying to make it into what you seem to have already. I too am careful with pain meds after having gotten hooked on ocycontin and going through hell to get off it. :-)

thank you for your nice words over at my place... i say rest and rejuvenate yourself and forget about the blog facelift. it looks great as is... and just so you know, i've been thinking lately how i need to update mine. : )

Hello! C.G...I have been out Of the "loop" with what is going on in your life...I'm so sorry...However, I'm so happy to read that you are on the "mend" and that your recovery from knee surgery is going as smoothly, as possible. Take it easy, get rest and Take care...Too!deedee :-D

Sounds like your one friend either has lousy doctor(s) or luck. That's horrible. Surgery is no joke nor should it be taken lightly. On the other hand, many procedures are routine to specialists and they can do a flawless job. It might be too soon to say but, thus far, my incision is incredibly discreet.

Thanks to my meds, I had to read your second line several times to realize you were not talking about a "facelift" for me. I kept thinking, "Oh, did I say I wanted a facelift?" Wouldn't have surprised me at all.

There is no indication of any trauma to the other knee. This one has had problems since the late 80s. Orthopedist wanted to go in and shave the miniscus back then. It was a fairly new procedure and I said "No." I think my hip problems exacerbated an already damaged knee. Anyway, I sure don't want any more parts.

Excellent news...told you it would be a doddle. Although I didn't like morphine, it didn't do much for pain, just helped you forget you had it. Great to hear you recovering so well. (My dog's had two knee replacements and is doing just fine hahahah!)

So glad that you're recovering well and that you had a good surgeon! Who does the surgery is very important! I know this since I work for one of the best Orthopedic surgeons on the planet. Don't worry about the blog, just rest and focus on getting well. Cheers!

I had a little set back last night. I may have overdone it yesterday. We went to lunch and I walked across a parking lot and sat in the restauranton the edge of a hard chair for 90 minutes. I go up and down our stairs at home but yesterday I put full weight on my operated leg, i.e. I did not lift it up 2nd after the good leg but rather first. I paid for this last night with some surprisingly excruciating pain.

Thanks Marguerite. I should consult you privately when I have questions which I do all the time. My scar is so beautiful. It's long but discreet. Very unlike my hip scars which were more pronounced. Is that a location issue? Inotherwords, skin on the knee scarring less prominently than on the side of the hip?

Thanks Tanna. It gets better every day. Apparently I'll be completely back to normal in 6 months (I believe that includes total healing & other stuff). Hoping to get out on the tennis court this summer. Haven't played in 7 years and it was my passion.

oh wow...def hope the recovery is coninuing to go well...this post must have gone up while i was away...6 months whew tha is a bit of time...hope it passes quickly...nah i am home from NYC got back at the weekend...just reliving a whirlwind couple days that completely refreshed me...